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At the opening of the 37th Israel Hotel Managers Association held in Tel Aviv, Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov warned that the main aim for tourism this year was to preserve the achievements of last year.  He commented that the 2009 budget is designed to help strengthen tourism activities for 2010.

The Minister of Tourism opened the annual meeting of the Israel Hotel Managers Association at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv.  During the conference  discussions were held about marketing tourism during a period of crisis.  Among those participating at the conference were Ami Etgar, Moni Bar, the Chairman of Holiday Travel, Eli Cohen, Vice President of Commercial & Industry Affairs for El Al, Efraim Kramer, CEO of Eshet Tours.

During his speech, Minister Misezhnikov said that he would do everything possible to stop the Ministry of Finance’s plans to implement VAT on tourists.  He added that Prime Minister Netanyahu understood the economy very well and was aware that it was impossible to invest in tourism while at the same time imposing VAT on tourists.

He added that in order for Israeli to escape from the current economic recession the government’s two aims were to reduce unemployment and to bring down the budget deficit.  Misezhnikov said that tourism provided the perfect solution for both of those issues.

The Minister advised that in the near future the ministry would start a marketing campaign in the United States and in Europe to encourage Christian pilgrimages.  He then said “I am asked why European cities attract 60 million tourists a year, I say let’s start small, Cyprus annually receives 6 million tourists and historically it is far less attractive destination than Israel.”

Finally, the Minister commented that the efforts to increase demand would not bear fruit if the availability of hotel rooms was not satisfied.